UEFA Euro 2012 Poland & Ukraine Group E - Qualifications

Alonso: "No hard feelings"

4 September 2010

The Spanish craving for success has not yet been stilled. They are World- and European Champions, but there is no mention of a siesta, as became clear when they beat Liechtenstein 0-4 on Friday. "We want to win more prizes, starting with Euro 2012. In football there are always new challenges," says Xabi Alonso, midfielder of Real Madrid.

In an interview with Dutch daily Algemeen Dagblad Alonso says he has no hard feeling towards Holland because of the rock hard final of the World Cup in Johannesburg. "The final sadly wasn't a good one, it was a hard one. But why all the fuzz? Come on, this was about the biggest prize, then a little more is allowed and one might give a little more than 100%. It's up to the referee to set the boundaries."

British referee Harold Webb didn't really do that. In hindsight he said he should have given Nigel de Jong a red card for his kung fu-kick that struck Xabi Alonso in the chest. But the Spaniard says to hold no hard feelings against De Jong. "Nigel excused himself straight after the game. I accepted it. Forget it. The whole incident is forgiven, as far as I am concerned,"Alonso says.

"My chest hurt for a week or so, but the traces are gone, there's no footprints on my chest anymore. There's no permanent damage, not to my body and certainly not in my head."

Euro 2012 campaign - Results, schedule, standings

Head-to-head: Sweden

Holland at European Championships

All time European Championships ranking